Los Angeles Lakers vs Phoenix Suns Predictions and Odds Dec 21

Los Angeles Lakers vs Phoenix Suns Betting Preview

WagerTalk NBA handicapper Andy Lang offers his Los Angeles Lakers vs Phoenix Suns betting preview for Tuesday, December 21. At the time of posting, the Suns are holding steady as a 6.5-point road favorite in Los Angeles, with the total at 223.5 points.

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Tues, Dec 21	NBA Betting Notes
Point Spread:	Phoenix Suns -6.5 at Los Angeles Lakers
Total:	223.5 Points
Game Time:	10:05pm ET / 7:05pm PT
Arena:	Staples Center
TV:	TNT

Los Angeles Lakers vs Phoenix Suns Analysis

The 24-5 Phoenix Suns travel to Los Angeles for a Western Conference battle with the 16-15 Lakers at Staples Center. The Suns have won three straight games after torching the Charlotte Hornets by a score of 137-106 on Sunday. The Lakers have lost two in a row, including a 115-110 loss on Sunday in Chicago. Phoenix has won the last four head-to-head meetings between these teams including a 115-105 victory back on October 22nd.

Even with their superstar Devin Booker out for seven games the Phoenix Suns were able to go 5-2 and stay on top of the Western Conference standings, leading the Golden State Warriors by a half game. In Bookers first game back he scored 16 points, grabbed 6 boards and had 5 dimes as nine Suns players scored double digit points against the Hornets.

Phoenix is a top five team in almost any category you can find. They rank third in points scored with 111.9 a game and fourth in points allowed per game with 106.4. The Suns have been outstanding with their shooting, ranking 2nd in field goal percentage and fourth in three point percentage. They have also done a great job rebounding mostly due to DeAndre Ayton, ranking 7th in that category overall. Bottom line when healthy they are complete from top to bottom.

The Los Angeles Lakers just haven’t been able to get their entire team healthy at any point this season. Lebron James has finally returned from injury and now Anthony Davis is out after injuring his knee on Friday night against Minnesota. Without Davis the Lakers fell short against a Chicago team who was without their best player on Sunday night.

The Lakers fast-pace offense has scored 110.5 points a game, good for 8th in the league. However, they need to improve on their free throw shooting as they only shoot 72.9% from the charity stripe.

Defensively it’s been a completely different story as they rank 26th in points allowed. It’s now Lebron James turn to attempt and carry this team without the other superstar, while Anthony Davis tries to recoupperate from his knee injury.

The Phoenix Suns are 6.5 point favorites with the over/under set at 223.5. Amazingly the Lakers are only 4-16 against the spread in their last 20 games against a Western Conference opponent. The Suns are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall. Los Angeles also is a league worst 12-19 ATS overall as they are an overvalued and public team.

The Lakers have played poorly on defense and without Anthony Davis, DeAndre Ayton should do whatever he wants in the paint. It’s Suns or nothing for me, I will lay the 6.5 points on the road with confidence. Speaking of Ayton, let’s roll with his over 26.5 on his Points+Rebounds. He has cleared this number in 5 of his last 7 games. I don’t see Dwight Howard being much of a deterrent for him tonight.

Official Play: Phoenix Suns -6.5
Official Player Prop: DeAndre Ayton Over 26.5 Pts+Rebs

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Los Angeles Lakers vs Phoenix Suns Preview from GoldSheet

One might think…the Lakers are a home dog!?!? How can that be? Well, keep your money in your pocket if you think you’d be taking down a stash by taking the points, because LA is a bankroll-busting 33% play (8-16) vs. the number in the last 3 years in that role.

And, hey, I don’t know if you know this, because it’s kind of a secret, but Phoenix is good. The Suns have won and covered 4 straight against the Lakers dating to their playoff series win last summer, and HC Monty Williams’ side owns the best SU mark in the league and has won and covered its last 3, and Sun PG Chris Paul, G Devin Booker (he’s back) and Jae Crowder really seem to enjoy torturing the Lakers when they get the chance.

In the first meeting between the two this season, also played at the Staples (soon to be Crypto.com) Center, The Suns took a 115-105 decision despite Anthony Davis having a 22-pt., 14 reb. Night, LeBron scoring 25 and Westbrook coming just one assist shy of a triple double. However, the Suns out shot LA, out rebounded the Lake Show and had a turnover edge, while Booker didn’t even have a great night (22 pts, on 9 of 19 shooting. Now no AD (knee injury; 23 ppg, team-high 10 rpg) of G Avery Bradley (Covid protocols; best defender), and several other contributors have joined Bradley in quarantine. Play Phoenix.

Tuesday’s NBA Stat Sheet

Each day, WagerTalk handicapper Ralph Michaels puts together his NBA Stat Sheet, which offers a head-to-head comparison for how teams are performing in a number of key areas heading into a game. Click here to download Tuesday’s sheet, with notes on tonight’s Los Angeles Lakers vs Phoenix Suns contest.

NBA Tip-Off Show

Join Joe Raineri, Tony Finn, Skee Profit and Rob Veno for the NBA Tip-Off Show at 4:15pm ET / 1:15pm PT as we discuss tonight’s marquee games. Stay up-to-date on the latest NBA news, stats, analysis, and predictions with our panel of professional handicappers as they preview tonight’s NBA action, including this Los Angeles Lakers vs Phoenix Suns clash, from a betting perspective.

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